One of Two Pre-Marriage Paths
What Is SYMBIS?
A well-known, licensed assessment we're proud to offer, alongside our own 12 Domains Assessment.
The Short Answer
What is the SYMBIS assessment?
SYMBIS stands for Save Your Marriage Before It Starts. It's a pre-marriage assessment created by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott in the US. Each partner answers an online questionnaire on their own. Then a trained facilitator walks you both through your combined report. There's no pass or fail. It shows you what to talk about before the wedding.
Last updated October 2026
Straight Answer
Created in the US. Licensed by Us.
The Parrotts built SYMBIS on more than 30 years of marriage research. Each of you answers questions about yourself and your relationship, separately and honestly. The answers come together in a 15-page personalised report covering seven key areas of married life, from communication and conflict to money, family and faith.
The report doesn't say whether you should marry. It shows where you already think alike, where you differ, and where you've never talked at all. Most couples find the third group the most useful.
We're licensed to facilitate SYMBIS, and it's a well-built tool. But it isn't ours, and we won't present it as if it were. It's one of two pre-marriage paths at MarriageWorks.TODAY. The other is our own 12 Domains Assessment, which we built ourselves.
Prefer something more affordable, built by MarriageWorks?
The Pre-Marriage Starter Bundle uses our own 12 Domains Assessment plus two 1:1 mentor sessions, for £299. That's less than half the cost of the SYMBIS Programme.
Compare Both OptionsHow It Works
Three Steps, No Surprises
01
The Assessment
You each complete the SYMBIS questionnaire online, on your own. It takes around 30 to 40 minutes. Answer for who you are, not who you think you should be.
02
The Debrief
You meet a licensed SYMBIS facilitator over video, who walks you through your combined report together. You see where you agree, where you differ, and why it matters.
03
The Follow-Up
Our SYMBIS Pre-Marriage Programme adds structured sessions built around what your report brings up, so nothing gets discussed once and then forgotten.
Setting Expectations
What SYMBIS Is, and What It Isn't
It's a conversation map, not a verdict.
SYMBIS won't tell you that you're right or wrong for each other. It points to the topics you need to talk through, and gives you words for them.
It's preparation, not therapy.
A SYMBIS debrief is guided mentoring. It isn't counselling, and it isn't the right tool for abuse, addiction or trauma. If anything like that comes up, we'll tell you honestly and point you to qualified help.
It works best with follow-up.
A report on its own is easy to read once and file away. That's why we pair it with mentor sessions, where you practise the conversations it starts.
It isn't the only good option.
Our 12 Domains Assessment covers the same ground for less money, and it's the same framework behind every MarriageWorks programme. Neither path is second best.
Your Two Options
SYMBIS or the 12 Domains?
Both lead to the same place: honest conversations before the wedding, not after. Here's how the two programmes compare at MarriageWorks.TODAY.
| SYMBIS Pre-Marriage Programme | Pre-Marriage Starter Bundle | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £797 for 3 sessions, or £997 for 4 sessions | £299 |
| Assessment | SYMBIS, created by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott | The 12 Domains Assessment, created by MarriageWorks.TODAY |
| What it covers | A 15-page personalised report across seven key areas | All twelve domains, from communication and conflict to finances, family and shared vision |
| Mentor time | 3 or 4 sessions with a SYMBIS facilitator | Two 1:1 mentor sessions |
| Also included | Programme materials and a certificate of completion | A resource pack and a certificate of completion |
| Best for | Couples who want SYMBIS by name | Couples who want strong preparation at a lower price |
Want more detail? Read our full 12 Domains vs SYMBIS comparison.
Questions About SYMBIS
What Couples Ask Us
No, and we want to be upfront about that. SYMBIS was created in the US by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott and is used by churches and counsellors around the world. We're a licensed facilitator. We offer it alongside our own 12 Domains Assessment, which we built ourselves.
No. There's no pass or fail, and no compatibility score that tells you whether to get married. SYMBIS starts conversations. It doesn't decide anything for you. The same is true of our 12 Domains Assessment.
The online questionnaire takes most people around 30 to 40 minutes, and each of you completes it separately. The debrief with a facilitator, where the results start to make sense, usually runs 60 to 90 minutes.
SYMBIS was created by Christian authors and is widely used by churches. The questions themselves cover everyday married life, so couples who don't share a faith background use it too. At MarriageWorks.TODAY, faith is an invitation, never a requirement.
Yes. You complete the questionnaire online at home, and your debrief and follow-up sessions with us happen over video. You don't need to travel anywhere.
It depends on your budget and what you want from it. Our side-by-side comparison walks through both. Or book a free Discovery Call and we'll help you decide.
The SYMBIS Pre-Marriage Programme is £797 for 3 sessions or £997 for 4 sessions. If that is more than you want to spend, the Pre-Marriage Starter Bundle uses our own 12 Domains Assessment and costs £299.
Ready When You Are
Choose the Pre-Marriage Path That Fits You.
SYMBIS or our own 12 Domains Assessment, both lead to the same goal: honest conversations before the wedding, not after.
Compare Both Options